Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad has exercised its right to arbitrate revenue division under its joint service agreement with truckload motor carrier JB Hunt Transport Services. Before the arbitration can begin, the Circuit Court of Benton County, Arkansas has been asked by JB Hunt to clarify the status of the two companies. JB Hunt says they are partners, but BNSF disagrees. If the BNSF view prevails, the railroad is entitled to review the revenue division for fairness on a quarterly basis (as is JB Hunt).
JB Hunt said the resolution of this matter won't affect service to its customers. In a separate matter, CRST International sought a temporary restraining order in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa to bar JB Hunt from hiring its contract drivers. CRST requested the emergency injunction to provide some relief before a case is heard that seeks to recover training costs CRST paid for the new drivers. The court refused the CRST request for an injunction.
In separate news, CRST sold its CRST Van Expedited Inc. airport-to-airport operations to US Xpress Enterprises. Terms were not disclosed. CRST's Van Expedited service employs over 2,000 team drivers and operates 1,400 tractors and 2,800 van trailers. The Major Airport Xpress Division, which was sold to US Xpress, was formed in May 2001. Its inaugural service used its own dedicated fleet to provide scheduled, time-definite, expedited less-than-truckload service between major metropolitan airports in the eastern U.S. In announcing the acquisition, US Xpress said effective with outbound tenders on Monday July 12th, all CRST pricing and terms would expire and rates and terms presently published by Xpress Global Systems will apply.
